France 1808-H 5 francs

Stack's Bowers 2025 ANA sale, lot 43371

This specimen was lot 43371 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Oklahoma City, OK, August 2025), where it sold for $1,920. The catalog description^[1] noted, "FRANCE. Empire. 5 Francs, 1808-H. La Rochelle Mint. Napoleon I. PCGS VF-35. A more difficult type from a smaller emission, this charming crown remains rather wholesome and appealing, and stands as the finer of just two observed in the PCGS census. From the Richard Margolis Collection (acquired from A. H. Baldwin's in London on 11 February 1999 for $33)." This design added a laurel wreath to Napoleon's bust. The 1808-A and 1808-B are the common mints for the year. In 1809, the reverse was revised to read "EMPIRE FRANÇAISE".

Recorded mintage: 7,192.

Specification: 25 g, 0.900 fine silver, 37 mm diameter, lettered edge, designed by Pierre Joseph Tiolier (1763-1819).

Catalog reference: Dav-84; Sobin-57; KM-686.5; Gad-583; F.306/6.

Sources:

Davenport, John S., European Crowns and Talers, Since 1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
Gadoury, Victor, Monnaies Françaises, 1789-2019, 24me éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 2019.
Prieur, Michel, and Laurent Schmitt, Le Franc 10: Les Monnaies, Paris: Éditions les Chevau-légers, 2014.
George Sobin, Jr., The Silver Crowns of France, 1640-1973. Teaneck, NJ: Richard Margolis, 1974.
^[1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, August 2025 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, featuring The Richard August Collection and the Richard Margolis Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2025.

Link to:

France 1808-H 5 francs

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